Butter-cutter.



J. M. LOW. v BUTTER VGUTIER. A PBLIUATION FILED 'JULY-27,' 1912.

U/ messes;

Patented. Apr; 1,1913. Y

J. M.'. LOW.

BUTTER GUTTER.

Patented Apr. 1, 1913'.

B SHEETS-SHEEYT 2..

Olli.

Nm o mu Q @uw www SQ Mm, TWNNMNN\T\N%\MJ MJNNYN, .mm

ATPLIUAT'IONTTLBD JULY 2T, 1912.

IF @Si J. M. LOW.

BUTTER GUTTER. I I APPLIOATION FILED J'ULY 21, 1912.

Patented Apr. 1K.j 1.5213.

J. M. LQwifl BUTTER-GUTTER. APPLICATION HLD JULY 27, 1912.

1913. 6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

Patented Apr. 1

J. M. Low.

BUTTER GUTTER.' ArrLxoATIo-n 3mm JULY 27. linz.

v'wanted Apr. 1, 1913.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

lQfiles,es A ff, M if A J. M.LOW.

BUTTER GUTTER. y APPLmATIoN FILED JU'Lg 27', 1912.

Patented Apr.1, 1913 6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

ff A

'JOHN M. Low, or oHIoAGd'ILLINoIs.

:BUTTER-CUTTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

To all whom t may concern Be it yknown that I, JOHN M. Low, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Chicago, county of Cook, and' State of Illinois, liave invented certain new and usetull Improvements in Butter-Cutters, of which-the following isa specification, and which 'are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

The invention relates to machines for dividing masses of butter into prints, and

the object of the invention is to provide a 2 is a side elevation of the same; Fig. 3 is a plan sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 4.-4 of Fig. 2; Fig.

5 is a` detail longitudinal section taken on' the line 5-`-,5 of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view showing a form of -trip ,whiclimay be used upon the machine; Fig.

7 is' a detail sectional view taken onthe line 7 7 ofFig. 1; Fig. 8 is a detail plansection taken on the line S-Sof Fig. 7;. and Fig. 9 is a detail sectional view showing a form of reversing clutch which may be used upon 'the machine. l

i The machine illustrated in the drawings l is adapted for working up the entire contents of a large tub or boX of butter into prints of a regulated size and such as may be used for sale. To this end the main part of the large mass of lbutter is out directly into prints of the required size, and the material which is thereby trimmed .from the outer' portions of the mass is compressed to-4 gether and then cut'into prints. A. feat-nreof the machine provides for the sepail-tion of the prints inxorder that they may be conveniently gotten out for Wrapping,

The parts of the machine arepreferably v arranged upon a suitablesupport-ing traine having the general form of a work table. Such a frame is indicated by the L.numeral 10 in, thefdrawings. It comprisesA the upiiglits or legs' shown at 11, 12,13 and 14,

sides of the posts` 31, 32.

the longitudinal rails shown at 15, 15, '17g 18, 19, 20 and 21, and transverse rails, one' of which is shown at 22. A. part of 'the frame 10 conveniently serves for supporting a bench, or shelf, shown at 23, upon 'which' Patented Apr`1,`-191`3f l Appucation med Juiy 27,1912. serial No. 711,861. v I

the prints cut by .the machinelzmay wrapped.

In the of butter ported upon, ways 25, 26,

head 29, Cutting wires, as 30 tended between the standards serve for horizontally dividing (Fig. 4)-, rexthe mass of butter during the movement of the ple, 24. The mass of butter-.is vertically dividedV by dOWIlWard'movement of the `cutter head".

29. To this en'd the cutter head 292is" mounted at the top of a pair of verticallyy f i movable posts 31,132, and is provided with a .series of transversely wires 33, all in a manner Well known inthe art. l,

For moving the platen 24 and cutter head v29, respectively, a gear-rack 34 is'extended platen 24, and

beneath and connected to the gear-racks 35 and 36 are formed upon-the l .The gear-rack 34 is engaged by a pinion 37a. Thispinion" turns upon a fixed bolt 37 b, and is driven in either direction by 'being intermeshedwith a gear 37 mounted upon an operating shaft f 38. The gear-racks 35, engaged by pinions`39, are mounted upon a 'horizontaloperatingshafttl.

36, are respectively 27 andi 2.8; i

operation of the machine the''nriass` is first received upon va movable 3. platen,shown at 24.- This platen is'sup-'f and is movabl-if thereon between standards-27, 28, toaposi tion beneath a- .vertically movable cutter arranged cutting'I 40, both oflfwhich l An abutment '42 is providedA for prevent-'1,V

ing longitudinal displacementV of thenmassof 'butter 'on the platen 24 lvas .it is moved against the'cutti'ng wires 30; As shown this y abutment is liingedly connected tot-he platen 24 at 43 and 'normally extends upwardly from the rear edge of the same. Most idesirably provision smade for 'releasing-the loo abutment when it reaches the :cutting wires Wardly from the abutment 42 and' .restsl at 30, in order that the'platen may pass underA the wires to its position beneathjthe cutter., ,f head 29.4 As showiia prop 44nextends`rear- .1

is provided for releasing the prop 44 when the abutment 42 reaches the cutting wires 30. Preferably this trip comprises a shoe,

47(Fi .16) carried by the pro-p 44, and an adjusta le 'lifting cam block 48. The cam block 48 serves for engaging. the slice 47 t0. raise its lower end out of engagement with .the upturned end of the arm 46 at a predetermined point in the travel of the platen 24. The1 cam block 48 is adjustably at tached to a fixed partof -the frame of the machine.- As shown it is mounted upon the lon itudinal rail 18 bythe use of a screw 49 which passes through a slotted opening 50 in the cam block.

The respective movements of therv platen 24 and cutter head 29 serve vto divide the mass of butter` into a number'of completed prints and a quantity of irregularly shaped pieces `of..material. -The completed prints arecut from the inner portions of the original mass, whilethe irregularly shaped pieces of material are trimmed from its outer portions. The completed prints may be directly transferred to the bench 28 for 'wrapping. The invention provides for also working the .irregularly shaped pieces of material into prints through the use of a compression chamber 51 and cutting mechanism associated therewith. The compres- -sion chamber 51 is illustrat'ed'in detail in Figs. l7 and' 8 of thedrawings. lt takes the vform of a tube of rectangular cross-section, and is provided with a feed opening 52 at one side. As'shown the feed opening, 52 is fitted with a hopper 53. shaped pieces of'material are compressed into a continuous mass by being forced through the compression `chamber 51. As shown the delivery end of the chamber is of into a strip having a width and height equal to that of three-completed prints of butter arranged side by side. Preferably the walls of the compression chamber adjacent its delivery end are made sloping, as at- 54, 55, 56 'and 57. A plunger 58 moves intothe chamberl beneathv the feed opening 52. ln order that vthe strip of material delivered '50 from the en d of lthe chamber may be sepa- 'rated into prints of the required size, cutting wires, as 59, V60, 'are preferably vertically extendedy across the mouth of the chamber.A An adjustably movable blade 61 is provided at the mouth of the chamber 51 -forwregulating the size of the prints. As

shown, this blade is supported at its opposite ,ends upon vlinks. 62. For' adjustably moving theblade a' shaft 63 is extended 6p transversely over the chamber 51 adjacent its mouth, and is ournalednear its, opposite ends in brackets y64. This shaft carriesa pair of crank arms 65, and

65 links 62'.

Irregularly such size and shape as to form the mass v nel of these" crank arms is connected to .each of .the A By v turning the shaft 68 thel intermediate section 89, i r 4fprints Ywill `rest upon' the swinvi'ngsections ,'90 and 91..respectively, thelineef `division heightof the yblade 61 is regulated. In order that this adjustment may lbe nicely regulated theshaft 63ca1jries an operating arm 66 'adjacent one of its ends, and an adjusting screw 67 is provided .for swinging the arm. The adjusting screw 67 has threaded engagement with 'a bracket 68 (Fig. l) mounted upon a side wall ofthe chamber 51, and has a s wiveled connection 67 with the arm 66. Ahand wheel A69 is mounted upon the outer endof the ad'usting screw 67. The position-of the bla e 61 isf, conveniently indicated by extending the operating arm 66 beyond. its point of connection with Vthe adjusting screw. 67, in the form of a pointer .70, and by mounting a graduated segment 71, upon a side wall of the compression chamber 51 to coperate with the pointer.

A vertically movable yoke 7 2,' carrying a cutting wire 7 3, serves for separating a quantity of the material which has beenfdelivered at themouth of the compression chamber 51. As mostjclearly shown in'Fig. 4, the yoke 72 is mounted at the :higher end of a vertically movable plunger 74. The plunger 74 j is slidingly mounted in' a bearing 76, the

same being formed upon a fixed part of the frame 10.

A laterally movable transfer table 77, l0-

' cated beyond the yoke 72, receives the material as it is delivered, from the mouth vof the compression chamber 51. As shown, Athe' table 77 is supported upon a pair of` swinging frames 78,79. The frames 78,179, are pivotally mounted upon shafts 80 and.81, fixed in the frame 10.` Preferably the transfer table 77 is provided with a plurality of slots, as 82, 83, 84 and 85 (Fig. 1). These slcts extend inwardly from one edge of the table and serve for receiving` a series of vertically arranged cutting wires 86 (F-ig. 2), whereby the mass of butter delivered upon the table 77 is transversely divided into lateral movement of the table. As shown, the cutting'wires -86' are extended across a rigid frame 87. A sectional table 88 is located at one side of the frame 87for 'receiving the material after it has been di-l vided by the cutting wires 86. As shown,- 'the table 88 'comprises arigid intermediate section 89, and a pair of swinging vouter sections 190 and 91. tion 89 is conveniently mounted ipcn a fixed part of the f rame of the machine, as upon the longitudinal rail 16, and the swinging outer sections 90v and 91 are liingedlyl` connected to theinterinediate section 89 at" Preferably the several ,its opposite edges.

are so proportioned in parts of the' table 88 l size that aninterinediate series of prints de- The intermediate secseslivered fronithe table 77 will rest .upon the and' other series of iso between' the prints effected the cuttingivires"`59 aiidO therebfyT substantial-lyregis "tering witlttheflines of Connection betiveen ex'cjeptjthatthe yokeA 72 is ,preferably 115 fr'.finedpart-A of the frame 10. Speed-reducing .the sections 99, 90,V and 8 9, 91, respectively.

A downward swinging movement vof the sections y190."andu91 of the' table 88 Will thus bereadilyjgrasped bythe hand of an opera- 'serve to separatefthe prints, where they may A y t'orl'for'transferringthein'from the `table 88 #Most .desirably all of the ,operative'parts power,

.tothe bench 23 for' wrapping of;V the Amach'ir'ie Wil'lbe actuatedby moved 1n one direction` by an attendant. As shown, 111' .eldtric motor 92 is supported upon a 'gears 93499.4serve -for communicating power "fromfthis motor toa countershaft- 95. The Countersllaft 95 entends transversely across the vframe 10 `andfserves for continuouslyl s head 29. The operatingsh'aft 98 serves for moving'the transfer table'7 7 and operating the movable parts of the sectional tableSS.

'This operating shaft also serves for raising A ,yoke 72.

" A gear dislr101, driven apinion 102 ,mounted onv the' countershaft 95, serves for operating the plunger S. As shown, the gear disk 101 is mounted upon one end of a shaft 103.; The shaft- 103 is journaled in a bracket d-mounted upon the frame 10. A Ahand WheelA 105, Aapplied to one of the rotating partsof the'machine, as the shaft 103, serves for turning the disk 101 when the motor 92 isnot in operation, as when the machine Shas been stopped and it is desired to shift the position ofthe plunger 58.`

Vhen the machine is in operation the 'plunger 58 is'continuously reciprocated. As shown, itis mounted at one end of a pair ot' reciprocating rods 106, 10.7. vThese rods have a longitudinal sliding movement in bearing brackets, as 10S, 109. .A cross-head 110 connects the rods 106, 10T, at-theil outer ends.

-` The gear disk 101 is equipped with .a Wrist pin 112, and a. pitman 111 serves to operatively connect the Wrist pin with the crosshead 110 to reciprocate the plunger 518.

. Bevelgearsll and 114 are mounted upon the' ends of the operating shafts 96 and 97,

. respectively, and a pair of bevel gears 115,

116, is-loosely mounted upon each of the shafts 3 8 and L11.. The bevel gears 11o and 116 of each pair mesh with the correspond f .ing bevel gears 113, 114, upon opposite sides.

'The beveled gears 115, 116, of each pairare 'thereby continuously driven 1n opposite d1- man lions. As shown, each of the bevel gears 116, is fixed against longitudinal move- Vment on the corresponding shaft 38, 11,' by having a. flanged hub 117 over which is 4fitted a collar 118. Each of the collars 11S is pinned to the corresponding shaft 38, 41,

.and is internally grooved to receive the flanged hub 117 of the corresponding bevel ,gear 1111.116. The adjacent faces of the bevel gears 115, 116, of leach pair are pro;

lvided with clutch teeth 119, and. a. clutch .member 120, splinedupon the corresponding shaft 38,41, plays-between each pair of bevel gears. By this means the shafts 38. :and L1l may be rotated in either direction by 1a movement of the clutch member, to one or .the other of its ext-renie positions, and the movementof theshafts 38, 411, may be ar- .rested by shifting the corresponding clutch .member to an intermediate position.

Provision is preferably made for manually shifting each of the clutch members 120v from' its intermediate position to its extreme positions, and for automatically V .restoring these clutch members to their iiiv :termediate positions when the parts operated by the corresponding shaft. 38, L11, have `completed their movement in each direction. As shown, a shipper arm 121 is provided for moving that one of the clutch members 120 which issplined upon the-shaft 38. This shipper arm is pivoted at 122 upon a fixed part ofthe frame 10. One of its ends is operatively connected to the corresponding clutch member 120 in a Well known manner,

as by being bifurcatcd to straddle the clutch member, and by-being provided with instanding pins, as 123, which enter a circum ferential groove 12d in the clutch member.

A hand lever 125 provided for swinging the-shipper arm 121 to start the movement.

ofv the shaft 38 in either direction. As shown, this hand lever is located in a conveniently accessible position at one side of the machine, as by being pivotally mounted upon a bracketarm 126 secured to the longitudinal rail 15. The lower end of the hand lever 125 is connected to the shipper arm 121 by a link 127 (Fig. 3). v@atop pins 128 and 129 depend from thegear-rack 31 adjacent its opposite-"ends for swinging the shipper arm' 121 when the platen 21 has com pleted its movement in either' direction. i For cooperating with these stop` 'pins a crank arm 130,' formed integral-With the shipper lever 121 projects laterally therefrom into the path of the pins'. A second. shipper lever 131 is provided for shifting' that one of the clutch members 12() which is splined upon the .sha-titel. This shipper arm is pivotally mounted Iupon a fixed part or' the frame 10, as at- 132 (Fig. 3'), and is connected to the corresponding clutch member l in the same manner as provided for connecting the shipper arm 121 to the,

other one of the clutch members 120; A hand lever 133 is provided tor moving the shipper arm 131 to throw the corresponding clutch member 126 into engagement 'with either one ot that pair ot bevel gears 115, 116, which is mounted on the shaft Ll1. ,its shown7 the hand lever 133 is mounted a djacent the hand lever 125, as by being pivotallyv secured to bracket arm 131 carried by the side rail iacent the bracket arm 1:26. A link 'l 'lor connecting the hand lever lili"y le shipper arm 131.

A three-arml J'o6 may be used for automatically in" i the shipper arm. 131. This lever is pia lg. mounted to swing in a vertical plane, as by being attached to a bracket member 137 (Fig. L1) of the frame 10. One of the arms or' the lever136 is biturcated, as indicated 'at 138, to straddl'e theshipper arm 131. The other tivo arms of the lever 136 extend into the path of a stop pin 139. This stop pin is mounted upon the vertically movable pest 132 adjain raised position.

cent. its lower end.

The yoke 72 carrying the cutting Wire 73 preferably7 moved downwardly for its cutting' stroke by a treridle 116. 1s shoivn. this treadle is pivoted to a Xed part ot' the `trame of the machine, as at 111 (Fig.

A spring clip 115:2, mounted upon a part ot the trame 10 and having a hooked louer end 14127 serves ilo r normally holding` the treadle It crank arm 1123 and a link 1111 serve for operatively connecting the treadle 1st() with the plunger T1 for moving the yoke 72. The crank arm 113 is pivoted at one end to a fixed part or" the traine o1 the machine, as at 115. lts other endl is connected tothe loivcr end of the plunger 71. The link 111 connected at its oppo site ends to the treadle 116 and the linklt-ll, respectively. The treadle 116 preferably also serves to operate a clutch for controlling,` the movement of the transfer table 77. As shown, a sprocket wheel 146, having a clutch-engaging vtace upon one side, is loosely mounted on Athe shaft 9S adjacent one end. vik sprocket chain 147 turns over the sprocket Wheel 14.6 and over a second sprocket Wheel 116. T he sprocket Wheel Attis mounted-upon a tubulanshaft 149 Whichv turns upon the pivot rod 81. The

c tubular shat't 119 carries an operating` cam the sectional table are connected by links veniently serves both 4itor operating the movableparts oit the sectional'table 68 and for controlling the movement ot a sivingiug' gatell Thelinovable parts 90 and 91 et the transfer table 7T onto the receiving table The o'aeratin cam 150 con-` igoenreo transfer ti in ounted As shown, it is pivotally .upper edge, as by'being pro- 'iin 156 journaled in bea-re on' a side of the frame is mounted on the i.; iected by a link 159 to one ot the arms 166 i a bell crank lever 161. The bell crank lever 161 is pivotally mounted upon lined part of the frame ot the mat-,hine7 upon the pivot 'rod 80. The other arm of the bell crank lever l161 carries a cam roller 163 which rides upon the operating cam 150. The movable transfer table Z7 is conveniently operated byva crankr arm 161- iormed integral `With. the

vsprocket Wheel 146. This crank arm is c011- nected bya link 165 to one of the swinging. frames, as 79, which support the table 77. A clutch 166'is'splined upon the shaft A98 and coperates with the clutch face of the sprockets' Wheel 146. This clutch member'is shifted by movement 'of the treadle 140,'as through a bell crank lever 167 having one of its arms connected to the clutch member and its other arm operatively connected to the plunger 7e. llreferably provision is made for automati ally raising the treadle 11G `when the crank arm 164 and operating cam 156 have been turned through one complete revolution. carried by t operating cam 150 and protained Within the compressed chamber 51,

as by downward movement of the cutting Wire 73, the bell crank lever 167 is connected to the plunger 74 by a pin 170' carried by the plunger and moving in a slotl 171 formed in the lever. By. this means the bell crank lever 167 is not moved to bring1 the clutch member 16`6yintoengagement'ivith the clutch taceV oft-he sprocket Wheel 1116 until the treadle 14() has been depressed tar enough to move the cutting Wire 73 downs*ardln through the mass of butter at tt e mouth. 6ft the compression chamber 51. irly.) when the treadle 140-is `raised by the eng .veillent of the pin 168 with the cam Vedge* 166, the bell crank lever 167 is notacross' the said end opening 4of the chamber'7 retinn movement of the To this end a pin 168 is i metisse a laterally reciprocable vtransversely slotted table located beyond the said end opening` of the chamber, and s. plurality of vertically arranged cutting strands supported in the path of the table in line With its said slots.

ln s butter cutter, in combination, e table comprising a'pziir of oblong rcctzinguler hingedly Connected sections, cutting means operable upon a mass of butter to divide itvup'on a vertical line,'1nee.ns for delivering the said muss of butter upon the 'Wteble With'v the seid line or' division substant-izilly in register with the hinge line between the seid sections, and. ineens for swinging one of the seid sections of the table downwardly to separate the parts of the said muss of butter.

3. ln a butter cutter, in combination, e plurality of hingedly connected sections formingn flexible receiving table, n reciproceble feed table movable laterally over the seid receiving table, e swinging gate-movable into the path or" the load carried by the feed table, Ineens for reciprocating the feed table, a cam adapted to nnilie one complete' 'revolution during each reciprocution of the horizontally disposed tapered tubular compression clrnnber open et its smaller end, n cuttingstrend extending vertically across the said open end ot the compression chamber, e pair or" hing'fiadly connected'lesves forming n flexible receiving table located beyond und at one side of the said open end of the compression chamber, :i reciprocable table movable betweenl positions in which it is in front. the open end of the compression chamber end in which it is over the seidl receiving table, respectively,"

s swingii'lqg gate movable into the path 'of the loud carried by 'the said reciprocebleIn table, means for opere-tino` the reciproozible table, Ineens for swinging the gate upon the return ofthe reclprocable trible` and Ineens for swinging,` one of the leaves of the receiy- Y ing table When the. said reci'pi'oceble table :s completed its said cycle of movement.

l. ln e bntter'cutter, in combins-tion,- 's ular lcompression chamber having en nd or' rectangular. shape, a blade ex- V zeroes one side of the said end ope-n ing of the chamber and adjustably AInova-ble toward the remote side of said opening for regulating the sise of the.. opening, sind plurality oi cutting strands 'arrengedin a movable section of the chamber,

means for mainteining` the parallel 'to te said remote side of `the opening; during its movement` 6. In e 'butter cutter, in combination, a tubular compression, chamber open et one end, s cutting strand movable across the said end opening ott-lie chamber, e laterally reciprocable transversely slotted table located 'beyond 'the said end opening of the chamber, le vertically arranged cutting strand supportedv in the path of thevtable in line with its seid slot, and 'ej gate movable into the seid table. v y

7. ln' e buttercut-ter, in combinatiom'a path or the load carried by vthe i horizontally disposed tubular compression chamber open et one end, a cutting strand extending vertically' across the said end opening of the compression chamber, a' laten ally reciprocable transversely ,slotted table located beyond the said/end openingof the compression chamber, Aand a A'vertically arranged cutting' strandin thepsth thel seid tble in line with its seid slot.. Y i i 8. ln e, butter cutter,'in combination, e cut-ting strand, a' reciproceble table movable by the strand ,and s ge'te'rnoveble into the, path of the load carried bythe table during the movement of said table in direction.

ln e butter cutter, in combina-tion,- :t

common plane, s reciproceble table movable across the plane of tl' e str-ends ende gate. movable into e. plane rellel with and ndjscent the plane of tnest'rends during the movement of the table in one direction.

10; ln a butter cutter, in combination tour cutters. and a tubular eompL-itfssioii chamber having open end or rectangular shape, three of the cutters acting in reletively perpendicular planes the other cutter net-ing across tliessid open end of the tubular compression chanibe Y y r ll. In a butter cutter, in combination, i four sets or" parallel cutting strands, a tubular compression chamber having an open end of ,rectangular shape and ereceiving table located beyond the said end opening of the tubular compression ch amber, three of the said sets of parallel cutting strands 'acting in, relatively perpendicular ple es and the other of seid sets of cuttin i A ds ene the said-receiving table beingletively mov able in sdireotimtrains'V se to' the axis of the ssi-tl vtrdoular compression chamber.

l2, ln sbtttter cut-ter', in on'ibination, s tubular compression chamber having en open end-of rectangular shape and cutting ineens noting tour planes, three of seid planes being'relatively perpendicular and' the other of seid planes beingperpendinle to lthe exis of the said tubular; compression 13. ln e biitter cutter, infcornbination, e

"tubular `cempression chamber ,having v 4ico open end of rectangular shape a cutting strand extending across the said open end of the compression chamber parallel with two of the sides of said opening, a blade eX tending across one of the other sides of the said end opening of the chamber and adjustably movable toward the fourth side of the opening for regulating the side of the opening7 and means for maintaining the blade parallel to the said fourth side of the opening during its said movement.

14. ln a butter cutter, in combination, a tubular compression chamber having lan open end of rectangular shape, one side of the chamber being inwardly movable for regulating the size of the opening, a regulaing shaft extending transverse to the axis of ythe chamber and operative connection between each end of the shaft and the adjacent part of the inwardly movable `side of the 20 Chamber.

JOHN M. LOW.

Witnesses :l

CHARLES B. GLLsoN, E. M. KLATCHER. 

